Engorged Onion

Did Simpson run over your cat?

I'm sure they've got balls @Kelpien, they just don't have a media platform. The fact that you don't here about it in the media, does not mean it's not occurring.

Wow, just woke up to the news. It's hard to see the season going forward from here for Essendon in a way that is not compromised. BUT that's what the AFL does best, operate in compromised conditions. From what I have read, EFC seem to have followed protocol, so it's hard to come from a punitive perspective towards them. For Melbourne, well, I started a thread before the Carlton game about what the season looks like from the FD department perspective. This locks it in now to being preparation for individuals and team systems 'in game' to get a clear run for 2021...I'd dare say all other teams have that focus now too. What a palaver. Ps... this has prolonged Harley's career! Woot!

The beauty of supporting this club eh! Still its better than a decade of seeing if we won't get flogged by 60 points.

I really want Weid to work, but I think this season is his last opportunity to do so in the Red and Blue. I liken him a bit to Jack Watts, in the sense that there is a smoothness when he has the ball in his hand, but he isn't a beast of a competitor, and that in itself is ok, but maybe not suitable for what we need as a club. For mine he would work great in a tandem tall forward setup, without being the no.1. Whilst Tmac is struggling, there is urgency for Weid to impose himself physically more - and currently he isnt built for that, a couple of years time and he may well be. From the outside, he doesn't appear to relish the physicality of a one on one or a pack situation, and I think for what the FD want, and what he needs, it may be best to seek alternate employment...sadly.

That rings a bell @markc, was that relevant to our barnstorming run in 2018?

Well, to be the pedant that I am, he still hasn't polled a vote in 2 years - unless of course Brownlow voting isn't actually secret.

I personally think this stat is meaningless in isolation... after doing it manually I cannot be bothered to check any other clubs. However what it does note, is that both through periods of quarters and through entire games 30/60 minutes at a time - either the FD or players do not know or cannot at will stem the tide. I don't know if its statistically significant more than the majority of other non top4/premiership winning clubs, ie: is Melbourne different from the rest of the comp?

My take - from a leadership perspective, when errors occur. If the players are taught to play percentages, ie: play safe... they will never ever ever be comfortable taking risks under pressure during a game. The negative threads post Carlton have all slammed the inability for this team since 2018 to capitalise on our advantage. Well, if you're teaching your players to play safe, it doesn't translate to a capacity to do that. Funnily enough, from a spectators perspective, when players take risks and it comes off, it doesnt look like a risk and looks great. Funnily enough, from a spectators perspective, when players take risks and it doesnt come off, it looks awful. Petraccas first goal was a risky ($$hit) kick to the hotspot, where due to his amazing core strength was able to hold the mark. That was a risk, it paid off and it looks great. Carlton's first goal was through Steven May not holding a mark (taking a risk), and it looked [censored] (and ergo, people question leadership credentials). You can train and train and train for this, but the only real time to train for it (to refine skills, feel more comfortable executing) is on game day. This is why I rate Goodwin... but this is also why Goodwin may fail.

@binman, I agree with the 'notion' of playing percentages, particularly in that part of the ground. It sounds (and correct me if I am wrong) like you are arguing that no matter the circumstances, never back your own ability to do something that isn't part of your fundamental drilled role. Always in every given situation, no matter the context - always do those things. If I have interpreted that correctly, what I don't agree with, is that it doesn't allow the fact that people make errors, without the intention of making errors. It's going to happen, players [censored] up all the time, because they are human. We want players to play with risk and flair, to make useful decisions under pressure, but dont legitiamately allow space to make errors and castigate them if they do, because of our own 'expectations' in retrospect after the play has happened. "Hero Ball" is an emotive response, I know you've backed Goodwin on here - and I do just... (my patience is waining), but if part of the philosophy is to back players to make decisions within their skill set (ability to take mark in traffic, with sure hands)(whilst acknowledging errors will occur), then these things will occur. What worries me immensely, was not that May's failed mark 'was' the one that got them going, it was the rest of the teams ongoing inability to stem the momentum.. nb: It's an unknown answer to Smith's two leaps. Correlation does not equal causation. But easy to do so in retrospect. Smith's greatest attributes are his athleticism and hands... probably made the decision to commit to the act, and like a hundered times a game, [censored] up a mark. Smith is raw... there will be learnings @binman, there will be learnings ...

It's a fascinating one isn't it... if he takes the mark, it looks like someone who is at the peak of his game and is lauded for it. Was it a percentage play? Nope, but I'd rather him risk that, then play safe. Players make decisional errors all the time, Gawn [censored] up taps, midfielders decide not to chase/apply heavy pressure, its merely amplified as a defender (I know you know that)... Having never played a game at high level... can someone walk me through when there is a pack of 3 forwards and 3 defenders, why you wouldnt be prepared to not jump at the ball, in case it's YOUR guy who takes a mark? How is it communicated in the moment as the ball comes in? How do you decide to go or stay? What if you fail to punch exactly where you want it? What if you drop a mark? (in a pretty difficult situation)... I guess I'm trying to illustrate, that its incredibly difficult because you don't necessarily know what your opponents are going to do, nor your team mates opponents, (thus nor your team mate).

I hear what you are saying @Rodney (Balls) Grinter, although it's hardly radical as this has been spoken about for nigh on 15 years. It's purpose is for both aesthetic reasons (as you speak about) but also reducing high impact collision injuries. For me, it beggars belief why it hasn't been signed off.

Good question Under Goodwin's Tenure 2016 - 5 2017 - 4 2018-5 2019-7 2020-2* so far *23 over 4 and a bit seasons. So that is essentially every 5th game we will have a scoreless quarter The previous 4 seasons 2012 yielded the other 34, essentially every 2.5 games.

Hey come on, Weid kicked 5 on the weekend.

ANB! lower the eyes... that was vintage 1994 stuff.

OMG, Jackson is a unit...

By the disconnect you mean... As a midfielder if you have the ball, make sure you look at what is happening in the forwardline and if you see a player leading, kick the ball to the front of them also don't constantly go for 'metres gained' because the only other interpretation is the Weideman, and TMAC must absolutely annihilate all and sundry in training as it seems as though there is a view as a midfielder, 'I can kick it anywhere in the 50 - and they'll have it covered'.

whats the context behind the breach? apologies, just saw it.

Yes, thats exactly what I am saying @daisycutter, individualist vs collectivist societies operate quite differently. 'be careful what I post'? Because you/others will judge me? sounds like something that would have been said to HL... but perhaps you are right... I conflated all white people being individualistic.. I guess the Sami's aren't.

Nah, not bribery per se... its how the white class individualist systems works, reputation, reverence, access to $, people, notoriety... Ed just happens to map it out into a context that it's not relevant (or wouldn't be accepted).

I just saw this in The Age... now perhaps there isnt full context around what Edward said, but if what was said is true, then culturally, Ed still doesn't get the need for a genuine acknowledgement of what has gone on. HL doesnt want life membership, he merely wants his experience acknowledged.

Peter, is there any redeeming features about the Melbourne Football Club playing list in your eyes?

For mine @Red and Blue realist, both Collingwood and Richmond have incredibly quick players and 'ping' the ball around better than we do. The game was dour because of the defensive structures that both clubs (and the top clubs) can commit to time and time again, not due to a lack of speed or burst from the team with the ball. The question for Goodwin and co, is how do we as a team best break lines and open the game up and beat those structures. A track watcher alluded to a perceived shift in training that it looks like we have pulled back a bit from the notional play on at all costs methodology. That one is great for breaking lines (but seemingly we kick it over our forwards head or to an out number)... the alternate is to slow it down a bit and be more precise which obviously allows the defensive system of the opposing team to set up. Quite frankly, I have no idea what the best approach is. Or...maybe its not as binary as that... anyone (a self appointed coach in waiting?) got some thoughts?

I get confused by that Is it Bennell, like Pummel or Ding Dong Dell, [censored]'s in the Ben Nell? ha...censoring nursery rhymes.

There was a great article (I believe it was in The Age on the weekend just past us) re: Harley, and the great work that Dr Peter Stanton in Geelong here had picked up on some nuances that perhaps had gone undetected in the past screening/diagnosis of Harley. I would argue @Fifty-5, that he hasn't been here before, because this was not specifically addressed. "Stanton thought it unusual that Bennell complained of heel soreness each time he suffered a calf injury, an indication that the nerves were being irritated. He knew the search for an answer had taken Bennell across the world but he wondered whether that numbness was a clue to something previously unidentified. Scans from Perth radiologist Dr Eamon Koh showed an extra band running across the top of Bennell's calf muscle, a rare feature that in other patients seemed to interrupt blood flow and cause calf problems. Vision of Bennell's calf tearing also revealed the nerve lengthening and stretching at the key moment." This is a significant moment in the resurrection of Harley...now whether it results in longevity it's not possible to know, however it has given him the best chance for it.